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Neither the bridge nor city caused accidents

By DIANE STEINLE
Published July 8, 2007

Critics say Clearwater officials were stupid for building a bridge on which vehicles have strayed out of their travel lanes with tragic consequences.

The logic cited by these critics is that the city should have known better than to design the Memorial Causeway Bridge with a curve in it, and if it was determined to have a curved bridge, the city should have known to put a barrier wall down the middle to keep cars from missing the curve and hitting each other.

Some of those criticizing the city have stated - incorrectly - that the new Memorial Causeway Bridge, which replaced a malfunctioning drawbridge, was designed by the city. Some have assumed - wrongly - that the city was in charge of the bridge construction project.

A review of the bridge's history might correct some mistaken assumptions.

The most important point: The Memorial Causeway Bridge is a state bridge, not a city bridge. The bridge funnels State Road 60 to and from Clearwater Beach.

For many years, Clearwater lobbied the state to replace the old Memorial Causeway drawbridge with a new high-level bridge. The drawbridge openings caused beach-bound traffic to back up, sometimes for miles on holidays and during spring break, and all that idling traffic contributed to air pollution. The bridge was too narrow to safely accommodate walkers and bicyclists. And as the bridge got older, it was increasingly dysfunctional, sometimes failing to open or jamming in the open position.

The city got more aggressive in its campaign for a new bridge in 1995 after the state Department of Transportation announced that it was going to make major repairs to the drawbridge rather than building a new bridge. In fact, state officials predicted it could be 20 years before the state had the money and opportunity to build a new bridge to Clearwater Beach.

The city persuaded the state to put off those repairs and got to work raising money for a new bridge. Eventually, funding for the $65-million bridge came from all levels of government - city, county, state and federal. With funding secured, the state DOT took charge of the building project.

The city hoped the bridge would look special, and when the private companies responsible for designing the bridge finished the design, it was clear the bridge would be unique. The bridge had a graceful look to it, with a soaring arch and a curve in the middle so the bridge supports would not interfere with the boating channel in the Intracoastal Waterway.

It was so special, the Boston Society of Architects placed the bridge's design on its list of seven "Landmark American Bridges of the 21st Century."

The bridge also was designed with a wide, low concrete median separating the lanes, so that someday a monorail could traverse the middle of the bridge.

After many delays and construction problems, the state finally completed the bridge and it was opened to traffic in August 2005.

Several serious accidents have occurred since the bridge opened, including crossover accidents, and news reports have noted that tire marks mar the edges of the concrete curbs on the center median, which is about 6 inches high.

Some motorists apparently either are surprised by the curve in the bridge or travel too fast to navigate the curve without their tires brushing the curb.

State transportation officials and city officials discussed the problems and chose to put reflectors on the curbing and emphasize the need to travel at a safe speed on the bridge.

However, a man injured in an accident on the bridge sued the city last month, alleging the design of the bridge is faulty. Frank Urino, who was hurt after a car crossed the median and hit his vehicle, contends the lack of a barrier wall makes the bridge unsafe.

Others have picked up on the suit's criticisms, blaming the city and the bridge.

A few things are important to note.

- The driver who hit Urino was a teenager charged with drunken driving. The driver was at fault, not the design of the bridge or the city.

- Anyone who drives the Memorial Causeway regularly can attest that drunken driving, careless driving and excessive speed are problems along the length of the causeway, not just on the bridge. That may be inevitable on a causeway handling traffic to and from a popular beach.

- The causeway itself has been the scene of many fatal accidents throughout its history, long before the new bridge was built. Typically, the drivers, rather than the design of the causeway, get the blame for those accidents.

The state can reduce the likelihood of crossover accidents by erecting a barrier wall down the center of the bridge, or perhaps just on the curve. Serious accidents were reduced on another causeway - the Courtney Campbell causeway - immediately after the state installed a barrier wall on it.

However, it is illogical to blame the city or the bridge design for the accidents that have occurred so far. Motorists have an obligation to adjust their speed to conditions and the roadway. Some have not, and their actions have resulted in tragic accidents and pain and suffering for innocent parties.

Diane Steinle can be reached at steinle@sptimes.com

[Last modified July 7, 2007, 22:05:34]